The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

COLERIDGE, Samuel Taylor. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. In Seven Parts. Presented by Willy Pogány. NY: Thomas Y Crowell [1910]. Folio, 222pp. Light green cloth, ornately stamped in gilt and dark green with colored pictorial roundels. Half-tone pictorial endpapers; color illuminated title and half-title, 20 mounted color plates, 22 full-page two-color decorations, 16 full-page line drawings, 30 smaller line vignettes, and hand-lettering throughout. Spine ends, spine panel and corners all a bit rubbed; front and rear covers lightly soiled; two creases along spine, slight internal foxing, else an internally bright copy of this lavishly crafted book.

First edition, being a set of US sheets (printed in the UK) in the binding for the first UK edition with George G. Harrap & Co on the spine. Coleridge’s epic poem is profusely illustrated on every page by Willy Pogány early in his career, with calligraphy and ornate framed borders, full color plates, and stunning full-page linework. This magnificent edition – a true marvel to behold – wonderfully captures Pogány’s imaginative talents at creating intricately crafted, gorgeous books and is considered by many to be the artist’s finest work.